TITLE
Title
DHHS-PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES ANTIMICROBIAL - RESISTANT GONORRHEA CONTRACT - $319,323
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Courtney McFadden
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BACKGROUND
Background
The Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division (PH) maintains a collaborative health trends research partnership with Wake Forest University Health Sciences, supported through funding from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Epidemiology/Communicable Disease Branch. This partnership focuses on advancing surveillance and research related to antimicrobial-resistant gonorrhea.
Through this collaboration, Wake Forest University provides subject matter expertise, data analysis, clinical guidance, laboratory support, and access to advanced molecular testing. Joint efforts between PH and Wake Forest continue to strengthen local laboratory capacity, pilot innovative resistance testing methodologies, and develop responsive strategies to address emerging antimicrobial resistance.
Guilford County has participated in the Strengthening the U.S. Response to Resistant Gonorrhea (SURRG) initiative since 2017. Following the conclusion of SURRG, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Combating Antimicrobial Resistant Gonorrhea and Other STIs (CARGOS) program, expanding participation from seven to twenty sites nationwide. The revised program scope emphasizes targeted specimen types and strengthens coordination across epidemiology, laboratory, and health information systems.
Core objectives of the CARGOS program include strengthening epidemiologic capacity to detect and respond to antimicrobial resistance, improving outbreak preparedness and response coordination, enhancing laboratory testing and reporting capabilities, and advancing integration across epidemiology, laboratory, and information technology functions.
The CARGOS initiative represents one component of a broader funding award from CDC to NCDHHS. The State contracts with Guilford County to ensure local implementation of required strategies. In turn, Guilford County subcontracts with Wake Forest University Health Sciences to deliver specialized expertise and operational support.
Funding also supports a part-time Guilford County staff member responsible for coordinating all CARGOS related activities, including monthly laboratory data extraction and submission of specimens to the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network. Remaining funds are allocated for laboratory supplies necessary to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing and other required analyses.
Between June 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, a total of 3,933 gonorrhea specimens were tested through CARGOS activities, with 83 undergoing antimicrobial susceptibility testing. These numbers are slightly lower than previous numbers due to modifications made by CDC as to what specimen types are now included in the CARGOS program.
The proposed contract with Wake Forest University Health Sciences, in the amount of $319,323, will cover the period of June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027. This represents the tenth consecutive year Guilford County has received this funding.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
FUNDS COMMENSURATE WITH ADOPTION OF FY2026-27 BUDGET
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve contract with Wake Forest University Health Sciences, in substantial form, in the amount of $319,323, to be effective for the period June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027 for a health trends research contract.
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